Date: Unknown (thought to be 610 CY) Attendance: Wulrakas, Jareth, Cat ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recap: The party continues their exploration of The Citadel, eventually reaching the innermost sanctum. Inside they face Prince Hastern, who has become a Death Knight -- and perhaps something more. Cat is immediately felled by an explosive fireball, severely crushing any chance that the party will survive the encounter. As Hastern approaches Wulrakas, however, the room begins to shift: the walls expand and contract like putty, and the air itself seems to shimmer. Suddenly the group finds themselves in the positions they were just minutes before; Prince Hastern is back on his throne, equally confused. Jericho steps out from the room behind, looking much worse for wear. His hair is white, his skin is wrinkled and sags, and his eyes have thick cataracts. He claims that Hastern is a chronomancer, and has "cheated" somehow, and that the "Viatori" don't approve. Shortly thereafter the half-orc's body withers away like burnt paper, leaving a pile of ash, bones, and a strange rune beneath his feet. Thus ends the life of the second Hero of Marlgrove. A fight commences with Hastern once more. This time the party succeeds, and Hastern's death causes the room to begin to implode in on itself. Large chunks of nothingness appear at random around the area, one of which absorbs one of Hastern's slaves. A portal appears on his throne, which the party (along with Hastern's last remaining slave) jumps into. They're ported back to Edgefield, but the town looks remarkably different. The ramshackle hovels have been replaced with cottages and decent structures, the main road is now paved with cobblestone, and the wooden pallisade surrounding the town is now a towering stone wall, complete with watch towers. Confused, Jareth asks a passerby what year it is. The orc, wearing a sharp military uniform, tells him that it's 610 CY. The group returns to Rexi's Demiplane, only to find Thruskk -- sporting a thick beard and much longer hair -- sitting by himself near the hearth. He seems an utterly broken man, and it's revealed that the party's absence left him and Elite 53 in a sort of solitary confinement, unable to leave the demiplane. With no way to tell time and no hope that anyone would ever return, Elite 53 supposedly took his own life, leaving Thruskk alone save for the still-sleeping Virgil. After Cat tells him that his partner Jericho has perished, Thruskk seems to have lost all hope. Some encouraging words eventually strengthen his resolve, however, and he seems intent on helping the group awaken Virgil. Cat tries numerous things, including a dragon illusion roaring in the sorcerer's face, but it's no good. They decide to return to Edgefield with Hastern's slave and Thruskk in tow. Making their first stop at Rostanna's, the group overpowers the local orc bouncer, with Wulrakas knocking him unconscious. Two of his fellow bodyguards emerge from the back rooms, ready to fight as well, but Cat uses Suggestion and they decide not to press for a battle. Rostanna emerges, shocked at the sight of Wulrakas, Jareth, and Cat. She brings them to her office and some exposition occurs. Apparently Rexi made her way to Edgefield some time after the party went into The Citadel, and, upon learning of the group's apparent demise, decided to take over the town herself. Killing the orc's leader, she eventually took control of the army, and preparations were made to reinforce the town. According to Rostanna, a young magi was building his own army to assault the town -- in hopes of finding a pink skinned half orc, thought to be Jericho. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Experience: Wulrakas - 12,000 XP (297,750 XP total) Virgil - 0 XP (162,850 XP total) Cat - 12,000 XP (248,500 XP total) Jareth - 12,000 XP (248,500 XP total) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loot: Jericho's Rune - Jareth Jericho's Ashes - Jareth
